This month’s inspiring businesswoman interview is with Frances, the founder of Spiral Blue VA. Frances supports small business owners with their marketing and operations. Read on to find out whether she prefers tea or coffee, the best piece of career advice she’s received, and what it was like to work with a snake in the building!

What was your first job? Did you enjoy it?

I worked in accounts for a retail company called Pet City.  I loved working with the people, but it made me realise I didn’t want to be an accountant!  It was entertaining though – the CEO had a tarantula in his office, and I remember walking past the photocopier one day as someone was using it. They were holding a big sack, and inside the sack was a snake!

What do you do now?

I now support small business owners with marketing and operations. My work blends everything I’ve learned across my career, from my marketing degree to roles in sales, learning & development, and operations.

I help business owners communicate their message clearly, stay organised behind the scenes, and create calm, sustainable structures that support their growth. You can find out all about the services I provide on my website, or come and say hello on Instagram and LinkedIn.

How do your services help small business owners?

My clients tell me that working with me helps them feel calmer, more organised and more in control. I take the weight of marketing tasks, planning, and day-to-day operations off their shoulders, so they can focus on delivering brilliant work without the constant feeling of juggling too much.

What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve been given? How did it help you?

You don’t have to reply immediately. 

When I moved from a field-based sales role to an office-based role, I felt pressure to reply quickly to every email or request.  Learning that it was ok to pause, think and reply with intention helped me give the best possible answer each time

If you could give your 20-year-old self one piece of career advice, what would it be?

I’d tell her to follow what feels natural. Stay curious about people, ask questions, notice what lights you up. Those clues will guide you far better than any rigid career plan. And you don’t have to please everyone; it’s perfectly fine to choose the opportunities that feel steady and right.

Which do you prefer, tea or coffee? Beach or pool? Seaside or countryside?

Tea

Beach or pool is a tough one – I love both!  If I can have a private pool, I’d be quite happy to lie on a sun lounger with a good book and a swim every so often, but I also love hearing the waves on a beach.

Countryside

What’s your dream job or client?

My dream client is someone who’s passionate about what they do, but feels stretched by the day-to-day demands of running a business. I love supporting people who care deeply about their clients and want their work to feel calm, organised and sustainable again.

Someone who appreciates a steady, thoughtful approach and who enjoys working in partnership so they can focus on the parts of their business they truly love.

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